American looking to reach semi-finals at 21-and-under event for first time
Frances Tiafoe is returning to Milan. The 21-year-old American has qualified for the Next Gen ATP Finals for the second consecutive year.

Here are five things to know about Tiafoe before the Next Gen ATP Finals, which will be held 5-9 November.

1. He has an unconventional tennis story.
Tiafoe did not grow up the son a former major tennis champion or destined for ATP Tour greatness. His father, Frances Sr., was the Head of Maintenance at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland, USA, and Frances and his twin brother, Franklin, began to play there against a wall at the age of three.

Some nights, all three of them would sleep at the tennis center. Tiafoe's mother, Alphina, and Frances Sr. moved from Sierra Leone to the U.S. in 1996.

“I obviously wasn't a normal tennis story,” Tiafoe said. “The beginning of my career, I was playing for them, trying to do everything for my family. Obviously now I put them in a great place. Now I'm trying to do it for me.”

Watch From 2017 Uncovered: Tiafoe Revisits College Park Roots

2. He enjoyed a breakout run in Australia.
Tiafoe was 0-1 on the season coming into the Australian Open and had never made it past the third round of a Grand Slam. Yet the American won four matches, including against No. 6 Kevin Anderson, No. 35 Andreas Seppi and No. 21 Grigor Dimitrov, to make his first major quarter-final (l. to Nadal).

“[The Australian Open] was an absolute movie for me. Still in disbelief. I [want to] thank everyone who pushed me to make this run, y’all know who you are. I couldn’t be more grateful,” Tiafoe said.

3. He knocked out a Spanish legend in Miami.
David Ferrer retired in May after losing to Alexander Zverev at the Mutua Madrid Open. Along the way, though, Ferrer said goodbye to a few select tournaments, including the Miami Open presented by Itau.

In March, Tiafoe, en route to his first ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final, beat Ferrer in the Spaniard's last match in South Florida. The American also beat 2017 Nitto ATP Finals runner-up David Goffin before falling to fellow Milan qualifier Denis Shapovalov in the quarter-finals.

“Absolute war. I [have nothing] but respect for this guy, [David Ferrer]. You will be missed,” Tiafoe said.

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5. He's coming back to Milan.
Tiafoe represented the #NextGenATP in Milan last year, falling just short of the semi-finals. He went 1-2, beating Poland's Hubert Hurkacz but losing to eventual champion Stefanos Tsitsipas and Spain's Jaume Munar. Every year of the Next Gen ATP Finals has had American representation: 2017, Jared Donaldson and 2018, Taylor Fritz and Tiafoe.

Next up for Wawrinka is #NextGenATP American Frances Tiafoe, who produced a convincing 6-4, 6-2 win over Brit Daniel Evans for his sixth ATP Tour quarter-final of the year. Earlier this week, Tiafoe qualified for his second appearance at the Next Gen ATP Finals, held from 5-9 November in Milan.

American playing in Milan for second consecutive year
Frances Tiafoe has a knack for lighting up any room he enters.
The Next Gen ATP Finals launch party this Saturday was a perfect example of the 21-year-old in his element. He posed for photos with fans, chatted with the media in attendance and led the ongoing banter with his fellow competitors in Milan. Tiafoe thrives on a festive atmosphere off the court, which extends to his love on the court for packed stadiums at ATP Tour events worldwide.
”I’ve always liked the spotlight,” Tiafoe said ahead of his second appearance at this event. “You can always count on me playing my best tennis on a big court. The crowd getting into it is what makes it fun. That’s when all the work you’ve done in the dark comes out.
”I think it’s a privilege to have pressure, to be in a unique position. To play on a big stage with high stakes, you could be in a much worse situation.”
Read More: Tiafoe Lives For The Biggest Moment
A vocal crowd is just one of the reasons that Tiafoe looked forward to returning to Milan. Tiafoe relished the unique format of this event last year, utilising the in-match coaching option and feeding off the fan-friendly environment. Although he didn’t advance out of Group B, he still looked back on the week with fond memories.
Tiafoe also enjoyed how the event provideed an opportunity to spend time away from the court with his #NextGenATP peers. The affable American is one of the most well-liked players in the locker room, and it’s evident when he walks around the Allianz Cloud. When he’s not preparing for his first match on Tuesday against Jannik Sinner, he’s cracking jokes with other players or mingling with tournament staff, buzzing around the complex with the vigour of a seasoned politician.
”I’m really close with Alex de Minaur. Miomir Kecmanovic is a good friend of mine,” Tiafoe said. “I’ve seen Mikael Ymer around since the juniors. I don’t know a lot of the other guys here as well. It’s a new group for me, so I’m looking forward to getting to know them.”
Read More: 5 Things To Know About Milan-Bound Tiafoe
Tiafoe has no problem getting down to business when a match starts, though. The American’s intensity was on full display when he kicked off this season with his maiden Grand Slam quarter-final at the Australian Open. He celebrated victories with roars of approval, ripped off his shirt and even mimicked the chest-thumping celebrations of NBA star LeBron James.
The 21-year-old believes the intensity he brings to a match is a sign of respect for his opponent. But once a match is over, he’s able to leave it on the court.
"You want to respect their time. When you’re playing them, it’s still a job,” Tiafoe said. “There’s money on the line, [ATP Rankings] points, opportunity… For those two or three hours, we’ll compete, but then I promise you we’ll be friends after. Some people take [losing] personally, but I’ll talk to you in the locker room 10 minutes later.”
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Tiafoe is known for being a class act after tough losses, offering a hug or hearty handshake to his opponents. Maintaining relationships has always been a high priority for him. But if the reception he’s gotten from his peers this week is any indication, losing those connections isn't something he needs to worry about.
”I think togetherness is a big thing. You hope to have these relationships forever,” Tiafoe said. “You’re playing against each other, but they’re also your colleagues for the next 15 or 20 years. I’m competitive, but I also want the best for everyone.”

Australian Open quarter-finalist looking to finish 2019 strong
Frances Tiafoe can confidently call his third season on the ATP Tour a learning experience, both on and off the court.

In between the lines, he has experienced some of his best moments, making the quarter-finals of the Australian Open and the Miami Open presented by Itau in the first three months of the year.

But the American, who won his maiden ATP Tour title in 2018 (Delray Beach), didn't reach a semi-final all season and returns to the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan with a 21-25 record.

“It was tough. Obviously, your head gets a little big, you think you can just show up [at] the big events,” Tiafoe told ATPTour.com. “I think I learned a lot this year, and it's going to to help me for next year and the years to come.”

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Off the court, however, might be where Tiafoe has learned the most in 2019. The 21-year-old became a spokesperson for ThanksUSA, a nonprofit organisation that provides scholarships and employment support to children and spouses of U.S. military personnel.

Every Wednesday, when Tiafoe is around his home club, the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland, USA, he plays tennis with members of the organisation as part of ThanksUSA's Tennis Corps program. They joke around on court and open up off it.

“We play a bunch of tennis. We take breaks and just kind of talk about life, talk about some of the things they went through in the past and some of the things I've gone through,” he said.

Tiafoe's mother, Alphina, and father, Frances Sr., moved from Sierra Leone to the U.S. in 1996. As a child, Frances sometimes stayed overnight at his home club, with his twin brother, Franklin, and their father, who was the Head of Maintenance. The Tiafoe boys began to play tennis at the club at the age of three.

Watch From 2017 Uncovered: Tiafoe Revisits College Park Roots

The veterans and their families like chatting with Tiafoe about the ATP Tour and follow his results. He enjoys measuring their tennis progress, or lack thereof.

“It's a great organisation. Military families, they don't get enough praise... I love being a part of it. I love playing with those veterans,” he said. “They love seeing me. [We] talk about my results. I talk about, 'Man, you guys haven't improved since I've been gone. What's going on?' They're great people. They deserve that praise. I'm just more than happy to speak for them.”

The experiences remind Tiafoe of his unlikely beginnings and why he plays and travels the world 11 months out of the year.

“I just love being at home in general. Obviously, D.C. means everything to me. Something to have at home like that is great for me. Keeps me grounded, keeps me humble. Understanding where I came from, understanding that it's not a 'me thing,' it's a 'we thing,'” he said. “In due time, I want to do much more. I think that would also give me much more motivation out here to know that I'm [contributing to] something bigger than myself.”

Tiafoe also has plans to do much more this week in Milan. The American didn't advance out of the group stage in 2018, falling in straight sets to Spain's Jaume Munar in his final match.

But Tiafoe is eager to make good on his final appearance at the award-winning 21-and-under event and apply what he's learned this year. (Tiafoe was born in 1998, making him ineligible for the 2020 Next Gen ATP Finals.)

“This year was a huge learning curve. He did some really great things along the way,” coach Zack Evenden told ATPTour.com. “But it's more of an important year for him, because he can learn a lot from it.”

Despite his occasional struggles, Tiafoe has never stopped working hard this season. “We always say whether any player is struggling, if you're putting in the work, good things are going to come eventually,” Evenden said.

For Tiafoe, that good thing would be his first – and final – Milan title, a head-turning finish to match his click-worthy start.

“First priority is to get out the group and, obviously, see where you can go from there,” Tiafoe said. “But ultimately, I want to be playing on the last day and competing for a title.”

American wins the pair's first FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting
Frances Tiafoe’s reaction after clinching match point on Wednesday at the Next Gen ATP Finals made it clear that he wants to extend his time in Milan. The second-seeded American fell to the ground in delight after getting on the board this week with a 4-2, 4-3(5), 3-4(4), 4-1 victory over Frenchman Ugo Humbert.
Tiafoe moved to 1-1 in Group B, while Humbert fell to 0-2. The American enjoyed some of the biggest results of his career this season, reaching his maiden Grand Slam quarter-final at the Australian Open and his first ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final at the Miami Open presented by Itau.

Tiafoe makes Milan SF for first time
Second seed Frances Tiafoe found himself in an identical situation to last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals when he took the court on Thursday against Swede Mikael Ymer, but gave himself a different outcome this time.
The American could have advanced to the semi-finals last year if he’d beaten Jaume Munar, but found himself overwhelmed by the occasion and fell in straight sets. But with a semi-final berth on the line again this year, Tiafoe embraced the pressure and produced a convincing 4-2, 4-2, 4-2 win over Ymer.
“I’m pretty stoked. I needed this. The second half of this season has been rough for me, so every match is an opportunity for me,” Tiafoe said. “I love this event and I want to stay. The more you win, the longer you can stay, so I’m happy to be in the semis.
“I thought I came up with the good points when I needed them… I did a good job, nothing fancy and just stayed locked in.”
Read More: Tiafoe Has Milan Title On His Mind
He joined Jannik Sinner as the two players to advance out of Group B. Tiafoe will face close friend and top seed Alex de Minaur in Friday’s semi-final action. The Aussie prevailed in their lone FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting at last year’s US Open.
“I wanted to see him in the final, but unfortunately it has to be in the semis,” Tiafoe said. “He’s a workhorse. He’s going to get every ball, keep every rally extremely long and make me beat him. I’m ready for the task. We’re going to go after each other, but we’ll still be great friends after.”
Read More: Tiafoe Talks #NextGenATP Friendships
Tiafoe joined Thursday's trend of dominant runs at the Allianz Cloud, going on a five-game winning streak from 1-2 in the opening set. Consistently landing first serves at more than 200 kph to set up winning forehands, the second seed dictated the tempo of play and kept Ymer pinned behind the baseline in rallies.
The second seed also showed his growth in the most critical moments of the match. Tiafoe didn't convert his two chances to break last year against Munar, but made good on 50 per cent (3/6) of his opportunities against Ymer. He was equally impressive in deciding points against the Swede, winning four of five on the night.
Tiafoe secured his final break at 2-2 in the third set and raised his arms in triumph after another strong serve wrapped up play after 67 minutes.

American enjoying his time in Milan
Frances Tiafoe is one of the many players who have used their time at the Next Gen ATP Finals to reach even greater heights on the ATP Tour.

Four months after his debut appearance in Milan last year, the American racked up his maiden Grand Slam quarter-final at the Australian Open, first ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final at the Miami Open presented by Itau and a career-high ATP Ranking of No. 29. The second seed has surpassed his 2018 performance by advancing out of round-robin play and into the semi-finals against top-seeded Aussie Alex de Minaur.

”I think a lot of guys have taken big positives from playing in this event. They have something to strive for. I think you see a lot of young guys playing well because of it,” Tiafoe said. “Putting [us] on a pedestal, making [us] feel known. It’s not easy to [be known] on the Tour with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, unless you go for an outstanding run, which is not easy to take out these top guys.

“I really like coming to Milan. In the next couple of years, I will probably just come and just hang out. I love the city that much. I always love coming back. The fans are great here. I feel very loved here, practising and stuff. Little kids seem to like me quite a lot here. That means a lot to me.”

Read More: From #NextGen To Nitto

Tiafoe’s inspired runs, along with his chest-thumping celebration and emotional on-court interview after reaching the last eight in Melbourne, increased his profile significantly. But the 21-year-old admitted to struggling with the pressure that can come with those results. Tiafoe said after his win on Thursday over Swede Mikael Ymer that “the second half of this season has been rough for me,” but he appears to have turned a corner this week.

“I definitely had higher expectations for myself this year, but it's a big learning year for me. I had to deal with a lot of expectations. I had to deal with being more recognised,” Tiafoe said. "So it was tough. I definitely felt like I was going to have more results on a regular basis. It didn't happe, but all of this is going to pan out for me next year and for years to come.”

Read More: Tiafoe, With Lessons Learned, Has Milan Title On His Mind

For now, his focus is on defeating good friend De Minaur and taking the title in Milan. The American is able to seamlessly separate the personal from the professional, remaining close with some of his biggest rivals on Tour. But when he and De Minaur walk on court, Tiafoe said they’ll have no problem putting their friendship aside.

"You want to respect their time. When you’re playing them, it’s still a job,” Tiafoe said. “There’s money on the line, opportunity… For those two or three hours, we’ll compete, but then I promise you we’ll be friends after. Some people take [losing] personally, but I’ll talk to you in the locker room 10 minutes later.

”I'm really good friends with most of the guys here, so it's all good blood. We battle and then, after that, go and chill. I think that makes good rivalries and good relationships. We have enough respect for each other that no matter what happens, we're going to be there for each other.”